Rob Deboer

Former USC running back Rob DeBoer celebrates the Gamecocks´ upset of Tennessee in 1992.

He was a
two-sport
athlete in
baseball and
football. He
was a leader
on the
gridiron,
guiding USC
to big
upsets in
the opening
years of SEC
play. He was
one of the
most popular
players to
ever walk
the Carolina
campus.

But even
through all
that, Rob
DeBoer is
still
honored to
be one of
Carolina's
most beloved
running
backs.

"You know,
for a
5-foot-9,
210-pound
white guy
from
Nebraska,
it's a great
honor,"
DeBoer said.
"I just
always pride
myself on
being a
hardcore
runner,
never go
down by one
guy and
leave it all
on the
field. And I
think the
fans
respected
it, and
that's what
I tried to
deliver."

DeBoer
traveled a
long way
from his
native
Omaha, Neb.,
to play
football for
the
Gamecocks.
While he had
offers from
other
big-name
schools,
this gifted
athlete
chose
Columbia
because of
the promise
he could
play both of
the sports
he loved.

"There were
two schools
that were
going to let
me play
football and
baseball at
the Division
I-A level:
Notre Dame
and South
Carolina,"
DeBoer said.
"And I chose
South
Carolina for
the
opportunity
to play both
football and
baseball as
a freshman."

Aside from
Notre Dame,
DeBoer took
visits to
some the
Midwest's
biggest
schools,
including
Colorado and
his home
school of
Nebraska.
But it was
the chance
to shine on
two fields
that DeBoer
called the
"best fit"
for him.

When he
arrived at
USC, the
Gamecocks
were in
their second
year of work
with new
coach Sparky
Woods. The
1990 season
produced
almost as
many highs
for the
Gamecocks as
lows, as USC
went 6-5
with wins
against
North
Carolina and
Virginia
Tech, but
took a
3-point loss
to The
Citadel in
Columbia on
the chin.
The 1991
campaign
featured
more of the
same, as USC
beat
Virginia
Tech and
Georgia
Tech, but
managed ties
with Duke
and
Louisiana
Tech and a
loss to East
Carolina.

That 1991
season
marked the
end of a
long stretch
with USC as
an
independent
school, as
DeBoer led
the
Gamecocks
into the SEC
as its
newest
member.

"I was a
part of a
team that
was an
independent
for two
years, and
then we
entered into
the SEC,"
DeBoer said.
"I was just
a guy that
loved
playing
football. It
didn't
matter, win
or lose, I
was going to
lay it all
out there on
the field."

It
was that mentality that helped DeBoer lead
the Gamecock program to three of its biggest
wins in school history. Aside for their 0-5
start in 1992, the Gamecocks managed to turn
their season around with a win against No.
15 Mississippi State. That win was only the
first of numerous memorable upsets, as
Carolina proceeded to knock off Tennessee
24-23 in USC's only victory against the Vols
since joining the league. With a close loss
to Florida, the Gamecocks' goals of a bowl
berth were cut short, as their 4-6 record
wasn't good enough. That left the season
finale with Clemson as a chance for nothing
but pride.

The game turned into a classic, as rookie
quarterback Steve Taneyhill taunted Clemson
fans following a touchdown in the 24-13 win,
DeBoer's only win against the Tigers.

The strong finish in 1992 pumped up the
Gamecocks for a strong start in 1993. That
season would not only be DeBoer's senior
campaign but would also mark his selection
as the team's co-captain along with Ernest
Dixon.

"Probably the biggest honor (I've ever
received) was being named by the coaching
staff and your fellow teammates as a captain
of that team," DeBoer said.

The Gamecocks overall finish in the 1993
campaign, a dismal 4-7, would eventually
lead to Woods' firing, but the first game of
that season proved to be one of the most
talked about wins in school history.

USC traveled to Athens, Ga., for a date with
the Bulldogs to open the season. With
Georgia leading 21-17 late in the ball game,
Taneyhill guided the offense down the field.
With time almost out, the Gamecocks called
one final play, with DeBoer as the lead
blocker, for a leaping Brandon Bennett who
cleared the pile of players to notch a 23-21
upset.

"Anytime you can win against a top-tier team
in the SEC is great. But certainly to do it
on the last drive with just a few seconds on
the clock at their home field really is
encouraging and a lot of fun," DeBoer said.

DeBoer finished his career with 1,810 yards
with a 4.7 yard-per-carry average, 12th on
the career rushing list. Ten years later, he
is still in the top 20, sitting at 16.

Although he
only had
three games
with more
than 100
yards
rushing,
each had a
special
meaning in
the history
books. His
165-yard
against East
Carolina in
1990 was the
best rushing
total by a
USC freshman
at the time
and is still
the
second-highest
total by a
freshmen. It
was also the
20th best
rushing
performance
ever in a
game that
featured two
100-yard
rushers, as
Mike Dingle
also ran for
113 yards.

His 104-yard
performance
against The
Citadel in
1990 was
impressive,
as it was
coupled with
a 117-yard
receiving
day from
David
Pitchko, one
of only 19
times that
has happened
in Gamecock
history.
DeBoer's
other
107-yard
output came
attached
with a
129-yard
effort from
Bennett.

"I think its
certainly
something to
look back
on. Its fun
to pull open
the book and
see your
name,"
DeBoer said.
"Things like
that are fun
to reflect
on."

When he
finished his
career on
the
gridiron,
DeBoer
resumed his
time on the
diamond as
the starting
catcher for
USC's
baseball
team. During
his junior
season, the
MLB draft
had come
calling,
selecting
DeBoer in
the eighth
round to the
Toronto Blue
Jays. Most
people would
jump at the
opportunity,
but after
much thought
he returned
to Columbia
to finish
out his
senior
seasons.

The next
season,
DeBoer
managed to
get drafted
again, this
time to the
Oakland
Athletics,
where he
played in
the minor
leagues with
some of
today's
biggest
names.

"It was a
lot of fun.
It makes
watching
major league
a lot more
fun," DeBoer
said. "Half
the guys who
are making
millions.
Eric Chavez,
Miguel
Tejada,
those were
all
teammates
and guys I
roomed with
coming up
through the
A's
organization."

Though his
professional
career
didn't pan
out as well
as he would
have liked,
DeBoer is
still
involved in
sports.
DeBoer
co-founded
The Athlete
Factory in
Columbia,
where
athletes can
go for
personalized
training, as
well as to
work with
high school
players and
other
organizations.

He also
spends his
Saturdays as
a sideline
reporter for
the Gamecock
Radio
Network.
He's done
camps with
former wide
receiver
Ryan Brewer
for high
school
players. But
most
importantly,
he and Todd
Ellis, USC
play-by-play
commentator
and former
Gamecock
quarterback,
coach his
8-year-old
son in
football.

"I just love
sports,"
DeBoer said,
"and I
always
viewed
myself as
just an
average guy,
with average
talent, that
worked a
little
harder than
average."